Bolstered by Tom
Brown Jr's book Field Guide to Nature
Observation and Tracking, I spent just a quiet day in the
woods by the Blue Ridge Parkway section that's near my
house. Saw and heard towhees scratching and titmice and
chickadees playfully scolding as i walked along, finally
stopped to just sit and let the woods 'settle down' from a
huge human tromping thru and sat and watched a grey mole run
its trails and police its area. I was in a very low
underbrush area, mostly Rhododendrons and hearing a curious
penetrating bird call unfamiliar to me. Finally he showed,
and later identification turned out to be a Kentucky
Warbler, rich in yellow underbelly and olive green above, a
very showy bird that kept its distance and well hidden in
the undergrowth. Showed itself several times probably just
out of curiosity. Also heard/watched a grey squirrel work
the ground amid the vast amount of freshly fallen leaves -
fallen from our brush with hurricane Floyd in which high
winds tore off any leaves and dead limbs that weren't firmly
rooted to the trees. A presage of fall to come.

I was also
looking for a good place to make a blind, or a sweat lodge
that's within a few miles of home. It's tough because even
though the woods are dense and it would be several miles
from Rt 191, the Blue Ridge Parkway can still be heard with
people racing up and down... more an annoyance than a
detriment.

9-20-99

Hiked a couple of miles of
the Shut-In
Ridge Trail, all part of the
Mountains-to-the-sea trail network. Heard a hoot owl and
imitated him so badly he flew off. Got pictures of some
skipper-moths, a shield bug, the trailhead, and a few other
misc. shots. Saw a good-sized (50 individuals) "V" of
Canadian geese go overhead, enough to count. Probably headed
for Lake Julian. Broke in some new hiking boots, half
boot/half sneaker. Stood for a while watching bumblebees and
actually was successful at petting
them. If you're too clumsy they
raise their middle set of legs as a warning. I don't wanna
find out what happens if i'm clumsier than that. It was good
practice calming my internal conversation so as not to be
threatening to them. Read about that in one of Tom Brown
Jr.'s previous books. My favorite bumblebee was one that had
a pretty stout tuft of yellow hair on top of his head. Like
a mohawk, he looked like a renegade bee. It didn't hurt, i'm
sure, that it was a bit chilly out and their movements were
somewhat slowed and relaxed.

9-21-99

Hiked along the "Shut-In" trail again, this
time continuing where i left off, to be able to describe it
for the Hikes section. Hiked the short walk from the
Chestnut Cove Gap to Bent Creek Gap.

9-22-99

Today's amusing sight: One of
the curious squirrels was sniffing around the drainspout to
my neighbors trailer and just had to see what was inside and
managed to get his head caught in the drainspout for a few
seconds. Funny too to see a manic squirrel-body attached to
a long tube.

9-23-99

Stepped outside tonight to
hear the hoo-hoo-hoo-hoooowah of a barred owl, being coyly
and softly answered by a female. When i cupped my hands and
hoo-hooed back, the male stepped up his calling and the
female remained quiet for a bit. I let them fall back into
their call-and-response rhythm which is hypnotic and
beautiful while watching a nearly full moon potter about in
the sky.

9-27-99

Intended to drive Julie and i
to some photo-spots. It was raining heavily, and got a few
shots, noting that the fall color seemed to be starting, if
muted. Out on Forest Service road FS## about 2 miles when
Daktari got a flat, and after much grumbling to get off one
nut that stripped, couldn't get the spare tire on because
the jack wouldn't go high enough. Had to dig a 2 inch
depression where the tire would go to get it on. Found out
that this tire was flat, too. Drove back to the asphalt road
with the old tire, clanking on the rim, then re-changed
tires to the better flat. Made it to Brevard by 5 o'clock
and then home, drenched.

9-28-99

Went out again with Julie
(Tires repaired, thanks), and as with any foray with Julie,
the focus is on vistas versus plant close-ups. Stayed on the
Blue Ridge Parkway because... well, just because. Rained
until about 1pm, then began clearing, driving thru patches
of fog and openings. Very beautiful. Kept driving towards
the end of BRP. Spent some time at Waterrock Knob and many
stops along the way. The color this year is starting out
oddly, with many colorful areas near the base, as opposed to
in the higher elevations. It may be because of the lack of
rain, the drier areas starting first.

Also
visited the The Pioneer Homestead along the Oconaluftee
river.

9-29-99

Rained, spent the day putting
up the website. Then making corrections for putting up the
website. Then looking it over and deciding it wasn't right,
making changes and then putting it up again. I feel like a
squirrel in a drainspout. I did get a small drive to the
park by the French Broad river, where i gathered a big bag
of black walnuts for future use... probably for the local
squirrels for winter treats. All part of the gardener
attitude, i hope.

9-30-99

Drove Daktari north this time
up the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to Route 80. Took a
lot of overlook pictures. I'm a fool for them. I take
sometimes the same picture every time I pass. The parkway
has it's moods and many of them are different, but waaay to
many of them are the same. Oh well. It was windy and much
cooler than usual. The leaves are changing sporadically.
Seems like the best color in full-sized trees is starting on
the lower buttresses of the mountains, the lower arms that
extend out. Up top, a lot of trees went straight to brown,
but there's still much green. I'm thinking this weekend, and
even better next will be good times to color-watch. Saw
chipmunks, deer, and bunches of goldfinches. It also
occurred to me: "Why waste the pictures i take from the
parkway?" I figured i'd start a "View of the week." The
weekly best shot of the Blue Ridge Parkway.